Wily Wolves banish Baggies

Two-goal Steven Fletcher helped lift Wolves out of the Barclays Premier League bottom three with a 3-1 victory over local rivals West Brom at Molineux.

The Scotland international took his tally to four goals in four games to end a five-match run without a win for Mick McCarthy's side.

Adlene Guedioura was also on target for the home side while Albion's only reply came from a Peter Odemwingie penalty.

Wolves started on the offensive and Scott Carson was forced to turn aside a free-kick from Jamie O'Hara, but from the corner Fletcher put Wolves ahead with his 10th goal of the season as Stephen Hunt's centre was flicked on by Guedioura inside the six-yard box and Fletcher applied the finishing touch.

It came as no surprise when Wolves doubled their lead after 27 minutes with a goal similar in build-up to the opener. Hunt's corner was headed back across goal by Fletcher and the unmarked Guedioura volleyed past the exposed Carson from close range.

Odemwingie could have pulled one back in first-half injury-time but drilled his shot wide of the far post after skipping past two players.

Wolves extended their lead two minutes into the second period after a mistake by Abdoulaye Meite. The Baggies defender looked to have covered a throughball from Kevin Foley but he allowed the ball to slip under his foot and left Fletcher with a clear run at goal and he kept his cool before clipping the ball past Carson into the corner of the net.

Wayne Hennessey dealt with a shot from Jerome Thomas at the second attempt while a deflected attempt from Guedioura flew past the post.

The Baggies were given a ray of hope from the penalty spot after 54 minutes when Guedioura brought down Thomas and Odemwingie planted the spot-kick into the corner of the net.

Stephen Ward could have made it 4-1 late on but pulled his shot wide with only Carson to beat and the Albion keeper then denied Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.